Universal Orlando

LOEWS ROYAL PACIFIC RESORT AT UNIVERSAL ORLANDO® TO UNDERGO LARGEST EXPANSION OF MEETING SPACE IN RESORT HISTORY

Expansion to More Than 140,000 Square Feet Follows Year of Epic Growth at the Destination ORLANDO, Fla. (July 31, 2014)

Building on a year of epic growth, Universal Orlando Resort will soon embark on the largest meeting space expansion in its history.

By fall 2015, Loews Royal Pacific Resort—already the largest meeting hotel at Universal Orlando—will greatly expand its meeting and event space from 85,000 square feet to more than 140,000 square feet.

Inspired by the beauty of the South Pacific, the expanded areas will seamlessly connect to the existing meeting space. Planners will benefit from flawless execution with a local flavor that is the calling card of all meetings at Loews Hotels.

The new space will feature a nearly 36,000-square-foot ballroom, divisible by 12, along with four additional breakout rooms and pre-function space. Once completed, the expansion will offer meeting planners a total of 141,330 square feet of meeting space on one level. Group reservations are currently being accepted.

“Our expansion responds to the tremendous demand we have received from larger groups,” said Larry Beiderman, managing director of Loews Royal Pacific Resort at Universal Orlando. “Meeting planners have a lot to look forward to as we expand, and they will continue to benefit from our award-winning culinary team, along with the exciting outdoor event space we offer.”

Upon completion of this significant expansion, Universal Orlando will feature more than 306,000 square feet of customizable meetings and event space destination-wide. The expansion comes on the heels of a year of growth for Universal Orlando, with the opening of the destination’s largest hotel, Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort, a historic expansion of Universal CityWalk and the highly anticipated The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley.

“This is such an exciting time to plan an event at Universal Orlando, as we grow the universe of options throughout our resort,” said Kathy Cattoor, vice president of resort sales for Universal Orlando Resort. “Each experience our team creates is unique to each group, whether hosted at one of our award-winning hotels, world-class theme parks or Universal CityWalk. Our team of meeting specialists excels at creating one-of-a-kind and productive events.”

Loews Royal Pacific Resort captures the beauty of the islands with a South Pacific motif, complete with an open-air orchid garden and hand carvings straight from Bali. The AAA Four Diamond Award-winning hotel has six restaurants and lounges, including Emeril’s Tchoup Chop. Hotel guests enjoy a lagoon-style swimming pool, private cabanas, complimentary Wi-Fi, and an exclusive package of theme park benefits including Early Park Admission to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade at Universal’s Islands of Adventure, and The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley at Universal Studios Florida, along with complimentary Universal Express Unlimited ride access, allowing guests to skip the regular lines all day on most rides and attractions in both Universal Orlando theme parks.

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About Loews Hotels & Resorts
Headquartered in New York City, Loews Hotels & Resorts owns and/or operates 22 hotels and resorts across the U.S. and Canada, including two newly acquired Midwest locations – the Loews Minneapolis Hotel, situated in the heart of Minneapolis’ entertainment district, and the Loews Chicago O’Hare Hotel, less than two miles from O’Hare Airport in the emerging city of Rosemont, IL. Located in major city centers and resort destinations from coast to coast, the Loews portfolio features one-of-a-kind properties that go beyond Four Diamond standards to delight guests with exciting, approachable and local travel experiences.

About Universal Orlando Resort
There are many choices for your Orlando meeting or event, but there is only one Universal Orlando Resort. With two theme parks, Universal Studios Florida and Universal’s Islands of Adventure, four magnificently themed on-site hotels and a nighttime entertainment complex, Universal Orlando Resort offers a variety of amazing themed venues, unparalleled entertainment and award-winning catering, allowing groups to never settle for business as usual. The resort’s 250,000 square feet of indoor, customizable meetings space will increase to more than 306,000 square feet by fall 2015, following the largest meeting and event space expansion in Universal Orlando history.

Universal Orlando Resort is part of NBCUniversal, a Comcast company.

MEDIA CONTACTS:
Jennifer Hodges
Loews Hotels at Universal Orlando
407-503-9090
jhodges@loewshotels.com

Heather Keroes
Curley & Pynn
407-423-8006
hkeroes@thestrategicfirm.com